I was wondering if anyone happened to know if the engines in the A5 3.2 and the current TT 3.2 were identical. It seems that Abt will be marketing their supercharger setup out of the TT-R. Was hoping for possible compatibility since 355hp would be pretty awesome!
This question seems to pop up from time to time. They are absolutely not the same engines. Both have the same displacement and both are V6, but that seems to be pretty much where the similarities end.
TT 3.2 is the same engine a 3.2 A3 has, which is an older generation Audi V6 (or actually a VR6 with a narrower cylinder layout for transverse installation into a small-size car). Some notable differences:
1) A5 3.2 has FSI (Fuel Stratified Injection), the TT does not. From Audi: "FSI direct injection technology increases the torque and power of spark-ignition engines, makes them as much as 15 percent more economical and reduces exhaust emissions. In contrast to conventional intake manifold injection on conventional spark-ignition engines, FSI engines inject fuel directly into the combustion chambers." You can hear the FSI on idle from the a bit diesel-like pump sound it makes, the TT 3.2 actually sounds better.
2) A5 3.2 has the latest and greatest, Audi valve-lift (AVS), the TT does not. From Audi: "More power and torque with less fuel consumption – that is the dream of every engine designer. With the Audi valvelift system, which manages the inlet valve timing in a gasoline engine in a very innovative way, that dream becomes a reality. Audi uses this technology for its direct-injection 2.8 and 3.2-liter V6-FSI engines in the A4, A5, A6 and A8." and "The FSI engines with AVS sport a few other special features. A new type of sensor technology feeds data to their management systems. It gets its information from the position of the adjustable inlet camshafts and no longer from the pressure in the inlet manifold as before, which is in fact constant when operating with the throttle wide open."
3) Last but not least, the 3.2 V6 (or actually, a VR6) on the TT is a transverse engine combined to a Haldex electro-hydraulic limited-slip coupler four wheel drive, whereas the 3.2 V6 FSI on the A5 uses a longitudinal arrangement and is connected to the mechanical Torsen limited slip differential for its 4WD, so the drivetrain setup is completely different as well. Of course both also use completely different automatic gearboxes.
Some links:
http://www.audiworld.com/news/08/audi-valvelift-system/content.shtml
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VR6
http://www.audi.com/audi/com/en2/tools/glossary/engine_driveline/fsi.html
